New York Islanders Can’t Stop Carolina Hurricanes: Suffer Another 5-2 Loss

Barry Trotz wanted the New York Islanders to step up after a 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Unfortunately, they repeated with a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

It wasn’t just a redemption game for the New York Islanders. Getting swept in the second round of the playoffs was a tough way to go out after sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins in round one. So that was certainly on the Isles minds as they head to the Raleigh to play the Carolina Hurricanes.

But also on their minds was that 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. A loss that had Barry Trotz give the team some pointed and deserved criticism in his post-game comments.

Not only did the Isles have to show they’re better since being swept, but they had to show their coach that they got the message. Spoiler; they weren’t and they didn’t.

First Period

The Islanders came out of the gate on fire. But all that pressure lead to nothing. In fact, they found themselves trailing by one early after Adam Pelech got caught flat-footed at the offensive blue line.

Thankfully the Islanders power play would get them back into the game.

Brock Nelson

would score eight seconds into the Islanders first power play of the night. With that goal, Nelson now has fifty percent of his power-play goal from last season.

That’s right. Nelson only score two power-play goals last season. To be fair, Nelson has only scored more than three power-play goals twice in his career. It’s something the Isles second-line center needs to add to his game.

The Islanders were lucky to get something in the period. Outside of the opening minutes, the Carolina Hurricanes dictated the show. If not for the Islanders special teams they were dead in the water with a 2-0 deficit after 20.

Second Period

Again, the Islanders came out pressing. Thanks to a power play that carried over from the first period, the Isles tied it up at two with a blast from Johnny Boychuk.

But slowly the Carolina Hurricanes took the momentum from the Islanders and were able to put up a few more goals to pull away.

With tallies from Erik Haula and Dougie Hamilton, the Hurricanes took a 4-2 lead into the third period.

Aside from special teams, the Islanders just couldn’t do anything well up to this point. With another 20 minutes to go and two goals down the Islanders needed to start getting pucks on net in order to generate something.

Third Period

Do you know that Wayne Gretzky saying? The one about missing 100 percent of the shots you never take? Someone remind the Islanders about that one.

Trailing by two goals to start the third period, the New York Islanders managed two shots on goal in the entire period. That includes a minute and a half with an empty net and a full two-minute power play.

The Islanders were near perfect with their special teams. They were 40 percent efficient on the power play and were 100 percent efficient on the penalty kill. But at 5on5 the Islanders couldn’t get much going.

In the final forty minutes, the Islanders managed three shots at 5on5. That in and of itself tells you how the game went for the Islanders. Poorly. The word you were looking for was “poorly”.

Three Stars

1. Brock Nelson: 1G 1A

Brock got the message after being benched for a portion of the second period against the Edmonton Oilers. Brock was one of the Islanders most dangerous Islanders players tonight.

2. Johnny Boychuk: 1G

He scored a goal and gave us a memorable “celly”. That deserves a second-star nod.

3. Jordan Eberle: 2A

After the preseason he and Barzal had it’s surprising that it took till game four for Jordan Eberle to get on the score sheet. But with two helpers he’s on his way to redeeming his production from last season.